SALT LAKE CITY – Following a competitive battle through nearly all three periods of play, the Utah Mammoth emerged with two points in a must-win situation over the Seattle Kraken.
With three points from Nick Schmaltz and a pivotal power play goal from Dylan Guenther, Utah was able to close out their three-game home stand with some much-needed momentum.
Here are the key takeaways from Utah’s 5-3 victory over the Kraken.
Another lesson in goaltender interference as the Utah Mammoth made a wise challenge
Nearly every night in the NHL, it seems as though there’s usually a questionable goaltender interference call for one reason or another.
As a ruling with a lot of gray area that often results in iffy judgement calls, every team in the league has at one point or another been the victim of a poor or questionable decision.
For Utah, they were almost the next victim on Friday night as a go-ahead-goal by Kailer Yamamoto was briefly taken off the board due to goaltender interference.
However, thanks to a wise challenge from the coaching staff, the officials were forced to take another look, and Utah was quickly rewarded with a good goal.
Let’s take a look at why.
We have a GOOD GOAL!
Goaltender interference on the play has been overturned.
2-1, Utah! pic.twitter.com/isp2EF8XEr
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) December 13, 2025
First off, here’s the official goaltender interference rule according to the NHL:
This rule is based on the premise that an attacking player’s position, whether inside or outside the crease, should not, by itself, determine whether a goal should be allowed or disallowed. In other words, goals scored while attacking players are standing in the crease may, in appropriate circumstances be allowed.
Goals should be disallowed only if: (1) an attacking player, either by his positioning or by contact, impairs the goalkeeper’s ability to move freely within his crease or defend his goal; or (2) an attacking player initiates intentional or deliberate contact with a goalkeeper, inside or outside of his goal crease. Incidental contact with a goalkeeper will be permitted, and resulting goals allowed, when such contact is initiated outside of the goal crease, provided the attacking player has made a reasonable effort to avoid such contact. The rule will be enforced exclusively in accordance with the on-ice judgement of the Referee(s), but may be subject to a Coach’s Challenge
So, why was Utah’s goal originally called off?
If you take a look at the replay, Liam O’Brien does make contact with Philipp Grubauer right before Kailer Yamamoto takes a shot on the open net.
By rule, that would result in interference and ultimately disallow the goal.
However, the rule also states that incidental contact will be permitted when it’s initiated outside of the crease.
Such was the case on Yamamoto’s goal as O’Brien’s contact clearly took place outside of the painted area which overturned the original call on the ice.
“I think Hunter Cherni and Alec Rippetoe (video coaches) did very well,” Head coach Andre Tourigny said. “What you have to understand is the follow-up of daily calls in the NHL, and to stay on top of the rules and how every call goes.”
“When I saw that, I’m not studying as much as them. When I saw the play, I said we need to make sure. He was really adamant about it. There was no doubt in his head. Really good job, and it was a key call at a key time, and that turned the game around a little bit.”
Unfortunately, there will be calls like this every night.
Fortunately, Utah made a wise decision to challenge, and the replay made it easy to overturn.
Dylan Guenther has caught fire at the right time for the Utah Mammoth
After scoring just two goals from November 18 to December 6 (11 games), Utah Mammoth forward Dylan Guenther has recently caught fire.
As the team navigates the loss of Logan Cooley to injury for the next eight weeks, Guenther has rediscovered his game at the right time with four goals over the last three matchups.
Not that it’s necessarily translated to a win in each of those outings, but No. 11 has consistently stepped up in key moments this past week when the team has desperately needed to the light the lamp.
Tonight was no different as Guenther yet again scored a pivotal goal from his office to give Utah a late lead in a must-win situation.
Gunner from his favorite spot! 📍
🚨 3-2, Utah! pic.twitter.com/ebdyCMp2b3
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) December 13, 2025
“He’s been great,” Nick Schmaltz said. “He’s one of our best players, he makes a ton of plays, he scores a lot of big goals for us.”
“We’re happy to have him. I think he’s been great for us all year.”
Nick Schmaltz on Guenther stepping up:
“He’s been great. He’s one of our best players, he makes a ton of plays, he scores a lot of big goals for us.”
“We’re happy to have him. I think he’s been great for us all year.” pic.twitter.com/zFWuY9nZV2
— Cole Bagley (@BagleyKSLsports) December 13, 2025
Look, nobody is going to replace Cooley for the next two months.
But if the impact players like Guenther can continue to dig a little bit deeper, they’ll stay above water long enough to make a push once 92 is back.
That’s why Guenther stepping up recently is huge for this team.
“I think everyone has to step up,” Guenther said. “It’s not like one player is going to fill that space. That’s a huge role to fill. We just need a little bit better from everybody.”
No. 11 gets it.
He knows what it’s going to take to stay in the race and he’s more than willing to answer the call.
If Utah successfully endures the next two months, it will likely be the result of players like Guenther giving just a little bit more.
So far, he seems more than up for the challenge which is a great sign.
Nick Schmaltz offered one of his most complete performances of the season
Similar to Guenther, Schmaltz stepped up in a big way for the Utah Mammoth tonight.
In addition to a team-high three points, No. 8 was all over the ice as he consistently crashed the net, moved the puck, helped out defensively and scored a momentum altering breakaway goal to get his team on the board.
Schmaltzy in on his own! 🔥
Tied up, 1-1. pic.twitter.com/TTy6qVsbZa
— Utah Mammoth (@utahmammoth) December 13, 2025
“He [Schmaltz] works so hard. Sometimes it goes under the radar. He’s always at the net offensively. He drives that line, no doubt about it, in the sense that he is at the net all the time,” Tourigny said.
“He does all the dirty work, and he’s elite defensively. He’s always the first guy back, and he’s playing down low. He will sleep well tonight, and I guarantee that. He works really hard.”
Schmaltz’s goal embodies everything Tourigny talked about.
Not only did he step up in a big moment to lift his team, but he generated the entire goal on his own from start to finish.
After denying a strong zone entry, Schmaltz tracked the play, pinched, poked the puck free and then went top cheese to send Delta Center into a frenzy.
Again, that’s more of what Utah needs with 92 out.
Complete performances in all three zones with a little extra from their impact players.
“When we’re moving our feet, making plays, using our transition game against teams…We knew they weren’t as good off the rush and so we wanted to exploit that. I thought we did a good job tonight,” Schmaltz explained.
“Whether they scored or we scored, I thought we managed our emotions pretty well and kept fighting. It was a big two points.”
Tonight was one of the most complete performances from No. 8 this season.
If he can do that more often than not till late February and even beyond for that matter, Utah will remain in play for a postseason spot.
What’s next for the Utah Mammoth?
The Utah Mammoth will begin a three-game road trip against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. MT.
The game will be available on Mammoth+.
All Mammoth games will also be broadcast live on the KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM/1280 AM).
Cole Bagley is the Utah Mammoth insider for KSL Sports. Keep up with him on X here. You can hear Cole break down the team on KSL Sports Zone and KSL 5 TV.
Take us with you, wherever you go.
